Drinking holes fee fury

CHANGES to the state's liquor licences fee structure targeting large and late-night venues have come under fire by a state politician.

Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn said establishments were being unfairly charged on their capacity instead of being penalised for serving underage and intoxicated patrons.

"The Government should be targeting those establishments that have a record," Mr Finn said.

"Businesspeople are being charged for doing a good job."

As well as a base fee, venues that are open after 1am will have to pay up to $5680 in risk-based fees, under the State Government's amendments.

And venues with a capacity greater than 100 people will be charged an extra loading on top of the fees.

From 2011 licensees will face even heftier charges to renew their licence if they are found to have breached liquor laws.

Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said late-night, large-capacity pubs and nightclubs posed a greater risk to community safety and were more expensive to police.

Other changes to the fee structure include:

Sexually explicit entertainment venues will have to fork out $30,000;

Small and not-for-profit venues may have their fees reduced or waived by the Director of Liquor Licensing; and

Venues with function centres open until 1am will be able to apply to have their function room capacity excluded from their total patron numbers, reducing the cost of their fee.